SMYRNA, Tenn. — The U.S. Air Force’s Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Team hosted MTSU students, faculty and staff for the final practice Friday before the Great Tennessee Air Show this weekend at Smyrna Airport.
Based at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, the Viper demo team performs precision aerial maneuvers to demonstrate the unique capabilities of one of the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighters — the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Air Force Maj. Garret Schmitz, commander of the 15-member Viper demo team, led the visit from the MTSU contingent, which included President Sidney A. McPhee and Provost Mark Byrnes.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Garret Schmitz, left, commander of the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, speaks to MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, second from left, and a university-led contingent visiting Smyrna Airport Friday for the last practice before the scheduled Great Tennessee Air Show this weekend. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)
“It was an honor to meet the Air Force Viper demo team and a terrific opportunity for our aerospace students to learn firsthand from these great professionals,” McPhee said.
The university and its Department of Aerospace also invited cadets from the Murfreesboro Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol, the volunteer civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and a university partner in aerospace education.
Schmitz represents Air Combat Command, the Air Force and the Department of Defense at more than 20 air shows annually. He is an operational F-16 pilot assigned to the 20th Operations Group.
The U.S. Air Force’s Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Team hosted an MTSU contingent for the final practice Friday before the Great Tennessee Air Show this weekend at Smyrna Airport. Pictured, from left, are University Provost Mark Byrnes; U.S. Air Force Maj. Garret Schmitz, commander of the Viper team; MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee; and Alan Thomas, MTSU vice president for business and finance. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)
MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, center, speaks with U.S. Air Force Maj. Garret Schmitz, commander of the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, at Smyrna Airport Friday for the last practice before the scheduled Great Tennessee Air Show this weekend. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)
U.S. Air Force Maj. Garret Schmitz, at right in flight suit, commander of the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, speaks with MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, far right, and a university-led contingent visiting Smyrna Airport Friday for the last practice before the scheduled Great Tennessee Air Show this weekend. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)
MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, fifth from left, poses for a photo Friday at Smyrna Airport with other university faculty, staff and students as well as members of the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, which hosted the group for the last practice before the scheduled Great Tennessee Air Show this weekend. To the left of McPhee is U.S. Air Force Maj. Garret Schmitz, commander of the Viper demo team. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)
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